Pat Benatar hits us with her best shots on "Innamorata" (CMC International). Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk makes a positive first impression on "Under These Rocks and Stones" (Columbia). Ericka Yancey, 18, combines young ideas and a mature R&B sound as singer/songwriter of "Ericka" (RCA).

10,000 Maniacs smooth some edges on the tasty "Love Among the Ruins" (Geffen), marking the debut of singer Mary Ramsey and return of founding member John Lombardo..

Rickie Lee Jones veers far into left field with "Ghostyhead" (Reprise), merging her jazz-flecked vocals and impressionistic lyrics with hard-edged, trip-hop tunes.

Even more perverse is "Titanic: Music As Heard On the Fateful Voyage" (Rhino), assembled with period-perfect arrangements by pop musicologist Ian Whitcomb.

New Orleans' latest gift to the music world is the "brass-hop" of Coolbone (Hollywood), a futuristic fusion of hip-hop, brass-band jazz and freestyle rap.

Producer/performer Gerald Levert lends an assist for his dad Eddie's new album with The O'Jays, "Love You to Tears" (Global Soul). En Vogue returns with "EV3" (EastWest).

Honoring the upcoming 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death (Aug. 16, 1977) is a new four-CD collection, "Platinum - A Life In Music" (RCA), featuring 77 previously unreleased Presley performances and 23 hits. Bassist Phil Lesh combed through the tape archives for the two-disc Grateful Dead concert collection "Fallout from the Phil Zone" (Grateful Dead). Soul-rocking cult fave Ben Harper honors "The Will to Live" (Virgin) with a tougher, more commercial edge. James McMurtry finally hits his stride on "It Had to Happen" (Sugar Hill).

Jon Bon Jovi touches down with his second solo set "Destination Anywhere" (Mercury). Neil Young & Crazy Horse are live on "The Year of the Horse" (Reprise). World Party mines the treasures of "Egyptology" (Enclave). John Lydon walks "Psycho's Path" (Virgin).

British sophisticates Swing Out Sister merge pop, urban, adult and jazz feels on "Shapes and Patterns" (Mercury). Philly's jazz-laced soft rockers Huffamoose go national with "We've Been Had Before" (Interscope).

On "Feelings," (Luaka Bop/Warner Bros.), David Byrne delivers "a schizo version of the inside of my head . . . as rendered by many different bands and musicians." Texas country men Lonestar return with "Crazy Nights" (BNA). Lee Roy Parnell celebrates "Every Night's A Saturday Night" (Career/Arista). Old 97 mixes country and rock, no-depression style, on "Too Far to Care" (Elektra), with an assist by Waylon Jennings. Ricochet returns in the "Blink of an Eye" (Sony Nashville).

June 24

Motley Crue inflicts the world with "Generation Swine" (Elektra), marking the return of Vince Neil to the fold with Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars.